Healing Wounds
Alex jumped into his jeep in the YMCA parking lot. He'd quickly given up trying to reason and rationalize his shower room debauchery with his new boss Emily. Throw it on the pile. Carrie was the only person he could talk to about it, and he doubted they'd have time alone together anytime soon. He owed Jenny a date tonight and didn't intend to let anything interfere with his plans.
A buzzing sound roused Alex out of his reflection and he picked up his phone. Twenty-seven missed messages, all from Ben. He didn't bother reading them, he had a good idea what his best friend was saying and intended to pay him a visit on the way home. He wasn't looking forward to facing Ben's wrath, but it had to be done; the longer he waited, the greater the damage would be.
Diverting his attention momentarily, Alex dialed Jenny's number. Her cheerful voice greeted him, "Hey, Alex."
"Hi there. Still on for tonight?"
"Absolutely. I'll be at the store until six."
"Okay, I'll stop by then," Alex said, then hung up after exchanging goodbyes. It was nearing five o'clock and he didn't have time to waste. He drove out of the parking lot and turned down the road towards Ben and Megan's house. Five minutes later he pulled behind his friend's car in the driveway and let himself into the house. Upstairs, he knocked on the door to his room.
"Ben? It's Alex." After several seconds the door swung open forcefully. Out of the corner of his eye, Alex just managed to catch an object rounding towards his head. He leaned back in surprise, taking a glancing blow to his cheekbone while Ben's fist followed through and impacted the door frame with an audible crack.
"Fuck!" Ben blurted, grasping his injured hand while Alex rubbed his face.
"Feel better?" Alex spat and then moved his jaw in circles to make sure nothing was out of place.
"Fuck you!" Ben howled. Alex shoved him out of the way and went into his room. Ben cradled his hand gingerly as he turned in surprise at his friend's brazen act.
"Look, I might deserve that, but you need to calm down before you hurt yourself," Alex said, rounding on his friend and trying his hardest to remain level headed.
"Why did you do it?" Ben bellowed, the shooting pain in his hand feeding his rage. He'd already fucking hurt himself.
"I told you exactly what would happen if you kept that camera running," Alex said, glaring at his best friend.
"But with Megan? My sister?! That was some sick shit, man."
"What we did was her idea, not mine."
"Bullshit!" Ben snapped.
"Ask her if you don't believe me. Ask Becky too, for that matter."
Ben sighed in pain and sat in his desk chair. "Becky told me. I watched the video while she was here." His breathing slowed as he began to calm. His throbbing hand was beginning to distract his anger rather than enhance it.
Alex sat on Ben's bed and said nothing, waiting for his friend to come to his senses.
Ben examined his injury, wincing in pain. "Probably broke my fucking hand. Fuck!"
Alex got up and left the room. Downstairs, he collected a bag of ice and a towel. While returning to Ben's room, he ran into Megan who had just walked in the front door.
"What'd he do?" she asked, obviously concerned as she grabbed his chin and turned his red cheek towards her gaze.
"It's fine, he hurt himself worse. I'm handling it."
"Alright, tell me how it goes. And don't be stupid, Alex." Megan was surprised it came to blows. She didn't want Alex or her brother getting hurt over something she'd instigated, even if they did deserve some punishment for what they'd done.
Alex nodded and went back into his friend's room. "Here," he said, handing Ben the ice and towel.
"Thanks," Ben grumbled. "How long have you and Meg been...?" He trailed off, unwilling to describe what he'd seen them do.
"Since Casey's party. The day before, actually, when I came here to set up the firewall. Apparently, she's been into me for a while," Alex said and shrugged.
"And Becky?"
"I've never done anything with her before. She wasn't part of the plan. Megan wanted her involved." Alex sighed. "Did I fuck that up for you?"
Ben shook his head and couldn't stop himself from smiling. "Once I got back I was going to do what you said and take the camera down. But Becky was still here, and she didn't let me off that bed for two hours."
"Good. And just so you know, I told Becky to wait around for you. Not that she needed convincing. I guess I sort of ruined her plans too."
Ben grinned to show his appreciation. "After we did it for like the fourth time, she told me what you guys had done. She said she felt bad about it, about me, I guess," Ben said, hanging his head. "She made me play the video and when it got to her part she said sorry and that I should call her if I wanted to, then she left."
"Did you?"
"Yeah, just did. We're going out tonight."
"Good. I'm glad. I felt the worst about that but Megan was insistent. She wanted to teach you a lesson and I couldn't say no, I already felt bad enough about the part I played in all this," Alex said, shaking his head.
"So you told her? She already knew when you came over here to talk to me?"
Alex nodded. "She got suspicious and forced my hand. But I was planning on telling her regardless."
"I bet she was pissed."
"You don't know the half of it, man," Alex said and shuddered for effect. "She's fine now, provided this ends," Alex added, nodding at Ben's closet.
Ben continued to look at the floor, clutching the bag of ice against the back of his swelling hand. "I, uh, have a confession to make." Not waiting for Alex to respond, he continued quietly. "I put that video up online, on a website I know where people sell homemade porn. I was pissed, I hope you aren't mad. The masks, the crazy shit you and Megan were saying about being brother and sister..."
Alex chuckled. "The roleplay was Megan's idea. Your sister is a piece of work, man."